Social Science Space

David Canter considers whether ‘all-purpose’ police forces a no longer fit for purpose.

The guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd signposts a defining moment beyond policing. Finding Chauvin guilty on all counts should have consequences for policing in the United States, the trial-by-jury system and, crucially, race and justice.

If history is a guide, notes sociologist David Cunningham, providing police with new tools to address current white nationalist threats could result in further repression of activists of color.

The general election manifestos of five of the UK’s biggest parties contain sweeping claims about the causes of crime and policies to reduce it. Experts are warning today that such broad statements are nearly always wrong, and are calling on politicians to stop misleading voters.

Recent publications have encouraged me not to keep quiet about this any longer. Now is the time to explain why I find the term ‘profiling’ so problematic yet get stuck with using it.

Social Science research is changing our understanding of the police and policing. This is raising fundamental questions about how police officers are recruited, trained and organised

Taking social science research beyond academia and using evidence to guide public policy is one of the biggest challenges social scientists face. Professor Betsy […]